Surfrider Urges Stricter Sand Island Wastewater Permit Limits

Environmental advocates warn current standards pose risks to public health and coastal waters.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 10:05am

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A ghostly, translucent X-ray photograph revealing the intricate internal structures of a wastewater treatment plant component, conceptually representing the hidden impacts of wastewater pollution.An X-ray view of the hidden infrastructure behind Hawaii's wastewater challenges, exposing the complex systems that impact public health and the coastal environment.Honolulu Today

As the Hawaii Department of Health considers renewing a key wastewater permit for Oahu's Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Surfrider Foundation is calling for stricter limits on bacteria and nutrient levels in the discharged wastewater. The group argues the current permit allows for bacteria levels far exceeding safe limits for recreation and relies too heavily on offshore dilution rather than improved treatment.

Why it matters

The Sand Island plant discharges up to 90 million gallons of treated wastewater daily into Mamala Bay, an area heavily used by local residents and tourists for recreation. Surfrider warns the high bacteria levels could pose ongoing health risks, especially for children and those with open wounds, and also threaten the broader coastal ecosystem and Hawaii's tourism-dependent economy.

The details

The Sand Island plant currently relies primarily on primary treatment, which removes solids but does not sufficiently reduce bacteria, pathogens or nutrients. While upgrades are planned, full secondary treatment is not expected until 2038. The draft permit allows for a daily maximum of 28,730 most probable number (MPN) of enterococcus bacteria per 100 milliliters, far exceeding the state's recreational water quality standard of 130 MPN/100 mL. Recent data has shown levels as high as 78,622 MPN/100 mL at the site.

  • The public comment period on the draft permit closes on Wednesday, April 16, 2026.
  • The Sand Island plant is required to meet national Clean Water Act standards, including limits designed to protect people recreating in the ocean.

The players

Surfrider Foundation Oahu Chapter

An environmental advocacy group calling for stricter wastewater permit limits to protect public health and coastal waters.

Hawaii Department of Health

The state agency weighing whether to renew the key wastewater permit for the Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

The federal agency with oversight over the state's permit review process and ability to ensure compliance with the Clean Water Act.

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What they’re saying

“Hawaii's residents deserve to be able to safely recreate in all of our waters. For too long, the state has relied on the outdated belief that 'the solution to pollution is dilution.' But dilution doesn't remove the bacteria; it just spreads it through the places where our keiki play and our community recreates.”

— Hanna Lilley, Hawaii Regional Manager, Surfrider Foundation

“People have been known to get gastrointestinal illnesses, rashes, infections, sometimes even days after exposure. Also especially if people have an open cut, infection can happen.”

— Kaitlyn Jacobs, Chair, Surfrider Foundation Oahu Chapter

“The mixing zone is what the permit relies on, and so it assumes that the pollution will dilute when it gets offshore. But dilution doesn't remove the pollution, it just spreads it around.”

— Kaitlyn Jacobs, Chair, Surfrider Foundation Oahu Chapter

What’s next

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a critical oversight role in reviewing the permit, and Surfrider is urging the EPA to step in and ensure the state issues a permit that upholds the Clean Water Act.

The takeaway

This debate highlights the ongoing challenges Hawaii faces in upgrading aging wastewater infrastructure and balancing environmental protection with economic development. Stricter permit limits could help safeguard public health and the coastal ecosystem, but will require sustained pressure from the community and regulatory oversight.